Supporters back in soccer stadiums soon? The idea is already germinating among the major European football championships to turn the page on the "sad" animations, which populate the stands behind closed doors. But caution remains in the face of the virus.

"I dream of being able to see people at the stadium, rather than sad boxes. But we have responsibilities and we have to be as careful as possible", recently summarized the Italian Carlo Sibilia, Secretary of State for the Interior.

In the Boot, as in Germany and Spain, the matches resumed in front of empty bays or almost, certain clubs having displayed effigies of supporters to fill their absence. Broadcasters have also chosen to broadcast pre-recorded songs to erase the freezing silence.

Palliative measures that did not convince

These devices have generated "a very strong sense of rejection" in Germany, says Ronan Evain, managing director of the Football Supporters Europe (FSE) network, based in Hamburg. "If it is necessary to play behind closed doors or with reduced gauges, that we do it but that we do not put up a thong to make people forget that we are still in a health crisis," he said to AFP.

If the stands have filled up again in Serbia, where open-air gatherings are authorized, or during a rugby match in New Zealand, largely spared by the pandemic (only 22 deaths), the European championships are being cautious and patient about the supporters' return, which they all hope for.

In a letter sent to clubs, revealed by Kicker, the German League (DFL) does not mention at all the end of the current season, but the next. Discussions have been initiated to "allow the spectators to return step by step," said its director Christian Seifert, however asking the clubs "to cite no figures or dates publicly without being certain."

In Spain, where the championship has just resumed, the League and certain clubs are already pushing for a return of the public before the end of June. This is the case of Las Palmas (Spanish D2) and Celta Vigo (Liga) which operate in regions little affected by the disease.

Discussions already underway in La Liga

"After ten or fifteen days of competition, we will sit down with the government to demand that the public can return to the stadiums," La Liga president Javier Tebas rebounded on the day of the restart. It would be "a sign of return to this 'abnormal normality'", according to him.

For the time being, the authorities maintain that such a scenario will not happen before all the regions of Spain are at the same level of deconfinement. "The playing conditions must be the same in all stadiums," said Salvador Illa, the Minister of Health.

In Italy, also very badly hit by the Covid-19 pandemic, the music is somewhat different.

"In the regions where, for several days, the new cases have been at zero, we can begin to think about a gradual reopening of the stadiums with a limited number of spectators," said Walter Ricciardi, government adviser and former president of the 'Higher Institute of Health.

In Italy, "the most absolute security" must take precedence

If football resumed, via the Italian Cup last Friday, there are no plans to repopulate the stands before "August or early September", however warned Carlo Sibilia.

"Imagine 10,000 people who have to go through the entrances to the San Paolo stadium (from Naples, note), that would be a bit complicated. That doesn't mean that we don't talk about it, but we need the most absolute security" , insisted the Secretary of State for the Interior, well aware that "football is worth less without the tifosi and their passion".

In Hungary, the shouts and applause have already started to resound in the precincts of the Central European country, where only people over 65 remain prohibited.

"I missed being able to greet the friends as usual, as was the fact that the older supporters were not there because of the restrictions," said Peter Molnar, a subscriber to Ferencváros who was nevertheless happy to have handed over the feet in Budapest stadium.

If the mask is not compulsory, spectators must wash their hands at the entrance and leave three empty seats between each person. "On the whole, the supporters respected the rules," the 33-year-old Hungarian told AFP.

With AFP

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